Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer on Tuesday said the White House used David Petraeus’s affair to get the CIA director to give testimony about the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that was in line with the administration’s position on the matter.

Appearing on Fox News's Special Report, Krauthammer said, "The sword was lowered on Election Day" (video follows with transcript and commentary)

CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: I think the really shocking news today was that General Petraeus thought and hoped he could keep his job. He thought that it might and it would be kept secret, and that he could stay in his position. I think what that tells us is really important. It meant that he understood that the FBI obviously knew what was going on. He was hoping that those administration officials would not disclose what had happened, and therefore hoping that he would keep his job. And that meant that he understood that his job, his reputation, his legacy, his whole celebrated life was in the hands of the administration, and he expected they would protect him by keeping it quiet.

And that brings us to the ultimate issue, and that is his testimony on September 13. That’s the thing that connects the two scandals, and that’s the only thing that makes the sex scandal relevant. Otherwise it would be an exercise in sensationalism and voyeurism and nothing else. The reason it’s important is here’s a man who knows the administration holds his fate in its hands, and he gives testimony completely at variance with what the Secretary of Defense had said the day before, at variance with what he’d heard from his station chief in Tripoli, and with everything that we had heard. Was he influenced by the fact that he knew his fate was held by people within the administration at that time?

If this true then the President is guilty of blackmail.The democrats will try and distract everyone like with Bill & Monica.Remeber what they said, "he's being impeached over a blow job".When the truth was he was being impeached for perjury over said blowjob.

It's the head of CIA getting busted passing sensitive information over gmail. WTF

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12119998

If that's true, then why wasn't he taken down before? Plus the email was sexy talk, any information was given on the pillow or on the running trail. Still, if that's true, why not take him down right away?

If this true then the President is guilty of blackmail.The democrats will try and distract everyone like with Bill & Monica.Remeber what they said, "he's being impeached over a blow job".When the truth was he was being impeached for perjury over said blowjob.

It's the head of CIA getting busted passing sensitive information over gmail. WTF

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12119998

If that's true, then why wasn't he taken down before? Plus the email was sexy talk, any information was given on the pillow or on the running trail. Still, if that's true, why not take him down right away?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Not in the middle of an election.

He left voluntarily BTW. Makes you wonder what kind of info is involved.

Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer on Tuesday said the White House used David Petraeus’s affair to get the CIA director to give testimony about the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that was in line with the administration’s position on the matter.

Appearing on Fox News's Special Report, Krauthammer said, "The sword was lowered on Election Day" (video follows with transcript and commentary)

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Krauthammer is rarely wrong.

Now let's see if he catches on with the RAMPANT and OUT OF CONTROL VOTER FRAUD that put Obama back in office.

When can we talk about some issues that matter in the real world?? Remember the real world??

Quoting: Fork Spinner 21493260

No...what's that? ;P Actually this is a real world issue, it has to do with what actually went on, breaking open the lies.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Hey OP, the reply means things that matter to liberals like gay marriage or third-trimester abortion rights. Liberals don't care about Americans that die defending American soil. Liberalism is a disease that is destroying America just like how communism destroyed the world decades ago.

It's the head of CIA getting busted passing sensitive information over gmail. WTF

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12119998

If that's true, then why wasn't he taken down before? Plus the email was sexy talk, any information was given on the pillow or on the running trail. Still, if that's true, why not take him down right away?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Not in the middle of an election.

He left voluntarily BTW. Makes you wonder what kind of info is involved.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12119998

Wouldn't it have made sense if they had this information during the election that it would look like Obama was Looking out for the country, and raise his votes? The reason he left voluntarily is that he didn't want to be blackmailed any longer. The best way to stop blackmail is to out the dirty laundry yourself, thus taking back control of yourself.

The only reason this came out is because of the shirtless FBI guy. He was sweet on Kelley. She called him about the annoying emails. He started an FBI investigation about it. He was mad nothing was being done about it. So he told a member of Congress all about it.

This wasn't supposed to come out. Obama was going to hold it over these General's heads in order to keep them on script when they testified about Benghazi.

When can we talk about some issues that matter in the real world?? Remember the real world??

Quoting: Fork Spinner 21493260

No...what's that? ;P Actually this is a real world issue, it has to do with what actually went on, breaking open the lies.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Hey OP, the reply means things that matter to liberals like gay marriage or third-trimester abortion rights. Liberals don't care about Americans that die defending American soil. Liberalism is a disease that is destroying America just like how communism destroyed the world decades ago.

When can we talk about some issues that matter in the real world?? Remember the real world??

Quoting: Fork Spinner 21493260

No...what's that? ;P Actually this is a real world issue, it has to do with what actually went on, breaking open the lies.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Hey OP, the reply means things that matter to liberals like gay marriage or third-trimester abortion rights. Liberals don't care about Americans that die defending American soil. Liberalism is a disease that is destroying America just like how communism destroyed the world decades ago.

Wouldn't it have made sense if they had this information during the election that it would look like Obama was Looking out for the country, and raise his votes? The reason he left voluntarily is that he didn't want to be blackmailed any longer. The best way to stop blackmail is to out the dirty laundry yourself, thus taking back control of yourself.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward

If Petraeus was innocent of anything but doing Paula then he could hang on. Something is missing from the picture.

The affair apparently started in summer of 2011, before he became director. Also been reported that close associates were aware. That being the case, means the higher ups were aware before he became director. They held an ace up their sleeve in case they wanted to get rid of him, and they used it.

The only reason this came out is because of the shirtless FBI guy. He was sweet on Kelley. She called him about the annoying emails. He started an FBI investigation about it. He was mad nothing was being done about it. So he told a member of Congress all about it.

This wasn't supposed to come out. Obama was going to hold it over these General's heads in order to keep them on script when they testified about Benghazi.

No...what's that? ;P Actually this is a real world issue, it has to do with what actually went on, breaking open the lies.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

Hey OP, the reply means things that matter to liberals like gay marriage or third-trimester abortion rights. Liberals don't care about Americans that die defending American soil. Liberalism is a disease that is destroying America just like how communism destroyed the world decades ago.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26167151

Probably accounts for the couple of one stars as well. ;P

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 23961878

LOL! Yea, I get those on my threads too, brother.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26167151

The price we pay! :)

Wouldn't it have made sense if they had this information during the election that it would look like Obama was Looking out for the country, and raise his votes? The reason he left voluntarily is that he didn't want to be blackmailed any longer. The best way to stop blackmail is to out the dirty laundry yourself, thus taking back control of yourself.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward

If Petraeus was innocent of anything but doing Paula then he could hang on. Something is missing from the picture.

Obama had the winning hand and played it that way.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 12119998

I'm not so sure, if they wanted him out, with this info they could have used it any time, and if they had used it instead of him resigning it would have been much worse for him and in the plan for them. Though a poster above had an interesting theory about shirtless FBI guy.

The affair apparently started in summer of 2011, before he became director. Also been reported that close associates were aware. That being the case, means the higher ups were aware before he became director. They held an ace up their sleeve in case they wanted to get rid of him, and they used it.